mclaughlins’ blog

Ever since I began watching How I Met Your Mother, I've made a rule to automatically love anything Neil Patrick Harris is a part of because I think he's a frakkin' comic genius. His lead role as the title character in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is no exception. While I'll admit it gets off to a slightly slow start, the show is alive and kicking by the end of Act I, and Act II is even better. To be honest, I'm enjoying them quite a bit more than The Office webisodes I've been looking forward to all summer.

I love Dr. Horrible's friend and fellow superhero, Moist, played by my favorite Big Bang Theory cast member, Simon Helberg. "I'm Moist. At my most badass, I make people want to take a shower."

And while I find myself on the subject of pop culture, can I just say how annoyed I am by this year's Emmy nominations? Granted, I am probably the only person NOT affiliated with the entertainment industry that cares a great deal about this, but it's my blog and I'm going to voice my opinion anyway.

First of all, what is with the television academy's endless fascination with Two and Half Men? I've never been able to sit through a full episode of that damn show, because it's NOT FUNNY. How can they possibly grant seven nominations to that stupid show and leave out several others that are far more deserving, like Flight of the Conchords or Big Bang Theory, two of the most original and freshest comedies on television this year? And Curb Your Enthusiasm? Seriously? I tried watching that show, and gave up midway through the second or third episode. The characters are so annoying. I wasn't a huge fan of Seinfeld, which was essentially 22 minutes of whining, and Curb Your Enthusiasm isn't any different. Hey, it's only my opinion. Obviously, I'm a little bitter and perhaps a bit biased because FotC and Big Bang have become two of my favorite shows, but it annoys me when the Emmys choose to showcase the same "talent" year after year, and refuse to give anyone else a chance to shine. (The Wire is another fantastic show, and this was the last year the academy could have extended a Best Drama nomination. They didn't.)

So, considering the nominees we were ultimately left with, here are the actors/shows I would like to see go home with a statue:

Best Supporting Actor in A Comedy: Referring back to my earlier NPH shout out, I'd love to see Neil Patrick Harris take home a win for Barney on HIMYM. Unfortunately, Jeremy Piven is just… ridiculous on Entourage, and he leaves little competition in the category. Still crossing my fingers for: NPH.

Best Actor in a Comedy: Ugh, I hate having to choose between Alec Baldwin and Steve Carell, and if that stupid Shaloub Monk guy steals it from either one of them, I will be oh-so pissed. I think Steve Carell is far more deserving, going four seasons on The Office without an Emmy win, and his work on episodes like The Deposition and Goodbye, Toby were spectacular, but Alec Baldwin was fantastic this year. Crossing my fingers for: Steve Carell. But I believe Alec Baldwin will emerge as Emmy favorite.

Best Actor in a Drama: Hugh Laurie, House. Similar to what I said about Steve Carell, I cannot believe Hugh Laurie has gone four seasons without an Emmy win. It's just ridiculous. Now that Tony Soprano is no longer a contender, I don't see why Laurie shouldn't have this category locked up. Crossing my fingers for: Hugh Laurie.

Best Drama: House. Season four finally broke away from the show's original formula, and it's never been better. The season finale this year, which I believe was submitted for Best Drama consideration, was very well the best episode ever. Although Damages is one of the best dramas on tv, I want to see House win. Crossing my fingers for: House.

Best Comedy: Flight of the Conchords! Oh wait, they weren't nominated, even though this was arguably the best new show I've watched this year. The Office just wasn't up to par this season, although I would hate to see 30 Rock edge them out, because I simply like The Office that much better… So maybe I'll split the difference and go for Entourage because that show is pretty dang funny, and I got more laughs out of Big Bang Theory than I did of The Office this year. Sad to say. My ultimate choice (although I'm sad to admit it): Entourage.

The rest of the categories, I could honestly care less about, so… whatever.  

I'll be at the midnight showing of Batman tonight, and I couldn't be more excited. I can't remember the last time I looked forward to a movie this much. Probably never. So, yeah, I'd say it's a pretty big deal for me. Until then, I'll quite possibly be holed up in bed with Stephanie Meyer's "New Moon". I finished "Twilight" in less than a day, and now I'm officially addicted. With the exception of the new Batman film, I'm never one that typically jumps on the "sci-fi/fantasy" fan bandwagon. I've never read a Harry Potter book or have seen a Harry Potter movie, never read or watched any of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Star Wars is... not a very big deal, could live without having never seen the movies. So I find it somewhat fascinating that I've taken to the "Twilight" series so much. I don't have many plans for today, other than reading, doing laundry, and counting down until The Dark Knight premiere, so I wouldn't be surprised if another blog somehow surfaces in the next couple of hours. So... until then, I guess.

xoxo

K

And this is the consequence of leaving a 4-month-old puppy home alone for an hour.

The neighbors who live directly below Nathan and me are Indian, and they cook ALL THE TIME. And my apartment smells like curry. ALL THE TIME. I have to ask, what the heck gets rid of the smell? I've tried everything. I've tried Glade plug-ins, those new Glade 3-in-1 candles (I've gone as far as lighting six at once), Febreze, baking cookies, potpourri... Needless to say, if the candle/home fragrance industry is wondering why they're seeing a sudden increase in profits, I believe I am the answer. Meanwhile, my apartment is smelling like Fresh Berries & Wandering Curry, and I am not happy.

Also, why do they show Jack in the Box commercials during repeats of That 70's Show when there are no Jack in the Box-es in the entire state of Illinois? Blast!

Anyway, I'm off to watch Juno. Until later.

xoxo

K

The Office is back today! Hooray! (Note: Kaleena is addicted to this show.) Oh, how sad and obsolete my life has been for the past five months. You have no idea.

I'm sure everyone has heard about The Office spin-off that's planned for next year, although I'm not sure it's as much of a spin-off as it is a creative development by the same writers and creators of the original show, but whatever. I've been thinking about the new show the Office creators have in the works, and while everyone is whispering about a possible scenario featuring the corporate offices of Dunder Mifflin, I'm wondering if we seriously want another show set in the confines of "just another" office?

Cons:

A) It'll simply mimic that of it's predecessor, and

B) Having another office mockumentary will just take all of the good story ideas away from the mothership...

So Nathan and I were thinking and we have some ideas, in case Greg Daniels happens to be looking around for any.

1) Hire Will Arnett. Enough loitering around the halls of 30 Rock- this guy deserves his own show.

2.) If you're looking for a funny female lead, Arnett's wife is pretty funny, too. And is looking to leave SNL...

Possible settings?

1.) A retail store, a la Walmart or Best Buy, or somewhere set in a mall. 
     - exhibit A (example of a random episode)
        episode 3: Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving is here, and [wacky store manager] gives a powerful speech to get everyone pumped up. Craziness ensues when the security alarms malfunction and continue to go off, non-stop throughout the day. [Random employee] finally gets the courage to make a move on [hot smoothie shop employee] only to come across [hot smoothie employee] totally making out with [random employee's best friend] in the supply closet. Meanwhile the [assistant to the store manager], growing irritated with the amount of unattended children running around the store, rounds them all up like cattle and keeps them locked in the break room. He uses his captive audience to practice for his upcoming interview for assistant assistant store manager. [Store manager] is at a loss when parents start to panic, and the [random city] police department is called, where it's discovered that [store manager] has quite the track record.  

2.) A restaurant, a la the movie Waiting. (Not sure it would be funny stretched out over several seasons, though.)
      - exhibit A
         episode 2: A Shrimp On A Barbie. A restaurant patron is confused when she finds limbs belonging to a plastic doll in her shrimp scampi. Turns out, [random girl] is unsettled when she learns of [random girl's boyfriend] obsession with collecting Barbie dolls, and starts dismembering them. [Random girl's boyfriend] is forced to conduct a criminal investigation complete with police tape and chalk outlines of the dismembered Malibu Stacey and Tracey to find the heartless doll murdererer.

3.) A "mockumentary" of a reality show a la "Real World". 
     - exhibit A
        episode 12: A Real World Vacation: The Real World gang heads to [random foreign country] for a week of partying, random hook-ups, and lots and lots of booze. [Random jock] hits on every woman around and hooks up with an exotic woman with an exotic disease. [Random whore] and [Random drunk girl] head to a bar where [random whore] makes a connection with the bar tender. Typical [drunk girl] gets drunk and stars making advances towards [random whore]'s man. [Random whore] is pissed, and flags a taxi back to the hotel where she dumps [drunk girl]'s suitcase full of clothes into the pool. [Drunk girl] gets home to find her wardrobe floating on top of the pool and a fight ensues. She immediately calls out "the b*tch" who trashed her suitcase, and [random whore] isn't afraid to step up and claim total responsibility. The two exchange fighting words, and things get physical when [drunk girl] throws a fork at [random whore]. The rest of the gang finally pull them apart and talk them down in seperate rooms. The following morning, [drunk girl] decides to be the bigger person and apologizes to [random whore] over breakfast. As [drunk girl] taps her Mimosa with a fork to propose a toast to being total B.F.F., the room mates jokingly duck. Ha-ha! Meanwhile, [hottie-disguised-as-a-dork] continues to pine over [total hottie].

Other ideas?

4. A mockumentary of an up-and-coming band, a la This is Spinal Tap.

5. A mockumentary of a cable news show / cable sports channel a la Sports Night.

6. A mockumentary of stars of a soap opera.

Yeah, I'm out.

xoxo
K

Doesn't work

Does not work.

Side effect is doesn't tell you about: May cause you to pass out at your laptop and drool all over the keyboard. And once I wake up, groggy as all hell, I'm still coughing and sneezing.
Don't work.

Taste good, but don't work.

12 hours my a@@.

BEING SICK SUCKS!!#JJIKSJFJI))_FJKS

K

So, our weekend was interesting. For the first time ever, in the history of all ever, Nathan and I had Saturday and Sunday off together. On Saturday, we were eager to get out of the house and spend a weekend like every other normal person does: lunch at a fancy restaurant (Chili's), and a trip to the local mall where we walked around with no real intent on buying anything. While being reckless and gallivanting across town, we saw a group of teenagers shoplifting and making a hurried getaway from Target. We were also witness to the kind of action you usually only get from the movies when we saw a random driver do a complete 360 in an icy parking lot, in which he actually parked perfectly in a space, calmly got out of his car, locked it up, and proceeded to walk into his apartment as if everything was normal, and he didn't just do a freakin' awesome 360 in the parking lot. Meanwhile, Nate and I stood in place for about five minutes with our jaws hanging open in shock.

I also managed to get addicted to Guitar Hero III, and I beat the computer- on the easy level. But still. I rock.

So, a pretty amusing weekend before I finally head back to school tomorrow. 

Because we felt like sharing.

K

I can't see!

What's the point of spending $135 on a pair of glasses when all I do is lose them?

Can I move back to Dallas now?

According to the Chicago Tribune, today marked Chicago's 36th day of "measurable snow" and there's more to come next week. This places the 2007-2008 snowy season in the number three spot for "Worst Chicago Winters". Well, we sure moved at the right time. I can't complain though because today's high of 41 degrees was like a heat wave.

I want my bandwidth back

Nate is apparently downloading something onto his computer that's over 80GB in size. It's hogging all of the bandwidth, and it's like I have dial-up all over again. I'm tempted to unplug his computer and pretend like I have no idea how it happened. You guys don't say anything.

xoxo

K

One of the things that has been keeping me entertained during the writer's strike (aside from HIMYM S2 and The Office S3 commentaries and deleted scenes, which are entire episodes in themselves) is the Nickelodeon show Drake & Josh. I don't want to discuss how it happened, or why I've instructed our dvr to record all upcoming episodes... I just find it entertaining. That is all.

xoxo

K